About the Division
Information on this page
Disability Services is a division of the Department of Human Services (DHS) and is a significant component of the portfolio of the Minister for Community Services, the Minister for Mental Health and the Minister for Senior Victorians, the Hon Lisa Neville MP.
Our role, vision and priorities
Our role is to fund providers across the non-government sector to provide direct support and care for people with an intellectual, physical, sensory and neurological disability, and acquired brain injury in Victoria. The Division also provides some care and support services to people with a range of disabilities.
These services and supports are governed by the provisions of the Disability Act 2006.
The Division also operates in line with the Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA) (External link). The CSTDA provides the national framework for the delivery, funding and development of specialist disability services for people with disabilities. More information is available from the Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement Factsheet (External link) which has been published by the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services.
Our vision is to improve the quality of life for Victorians with a disability by encouraging supports that enhance independence, choice and community inclusion.
Our strategies, including the Victorian State Disability Plan 2002–2012, work in partnership with people with disabilities, their families, carers and support providers, to improve quality of life by increasing opportunities for independence, choice and community participation, and promoting the rights of people with a disability.
Our priorities are to:
- Reorient disability supports
- Develop strong foundations for disability supports
- Promote and protect people’s rights
- Strengthen local communities
- Make public services accessible.
Disability Services Divisional Plan 2006-2007
The Disability Services Division Plan 2006-2007 outlines the key strategic priority actions for 2006-2007 that will help deliver better outcomes for people with disabilities. These priorities are in addition to the core services and activities and demonstrate an increased strategic focus to deliver our goals.
Our branches and regions
The Disability Services Division Head Office is located in Melbourne and has four branches that manage the planning, funding, monitoring and policy development strategies, which are implemented in the eight DHS regions. The four branches are:
- Community and Individual Support.
- Quality and Sector Development.
- Planning and Resource Management.
- Office of the Senior Practitioner.
Office locations
DHS has eight regional offices that provide supports and services to the people of Victoria.
Our structure at Head Office
Arthur Rogers
Executive Director
Disability Services Division
Department of Human Services
The Executive Director provides leadership through executive management of the Disability Services Division and regions to develop and implement policy that promotes reorientation of supports and strengthens the capacity of communities to enable people with a disability to pursue their own individual lifestyles.
Telephone: (03) 9096 8254
Fax: (03) 9096 9140
Email: Arthur.Rogers@dhs.vic.gov.au
Address: Level 8, 50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
Community and Individual Support
This branch has two main functions: service development and implementation of the Victorian State Disability Plan 2002–2012.
Service development – providing development of programs and supports for people funded by Disability, including the development of responsive service models and systems, and funding mechanisms and strategies to improve community access and participation by people with a disability. Cross program initiatives and liaison with other government departments aim to deliver cross-portfolio solutions to meet the service needs of people with a disability.
Chris Asquini
Director
Telephone: (03) 9096 7190
Fax: (03) 9096 9132
Email: Chris.Asquini@dhs.vic.gov.au
Address: Level 7, 50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
Quality and Sector Development
The Quality and Sector Development Branch is responsible for strategic implementation of the Disability Act 2006, for developing and maintaining a culture and practice of continuous quality improvement with a focus on outcomes and accountability to people with a disability; building workforce capacity including occupational health and safety; sector development and sustainability; and improving support approaches for people with a disability in department managed community residential services.
Kathryn Lamb
Director
Telephone (03) 9096 7508
Fax (03) 9096 9138
Email Kathryn.Lamb@dhs.vic.gov.au
Address Level 8, 50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
Planning and Resource Management
This branch is responsible for the provision of analysis and advice to enhance strategic and efficient resource management of Disability Services. Key responsibility areas relate to planning and performance reporting, strategy development, sector funding policy and analysis, budget development and management – including client funds management, asset management, the strategic replacement and refurbishment program, and IT development and management.
Bruce Prosser
Director
Telephone (03) 9096 7169
Fax (03) 9096 9137
Email Bruce.Prosser@dhs.vic.gov.au
Address Level 8, 50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
Office of the Senior Practitioner
The Office of the Senior Practitioner has been developed as an open and transparent means of authorising, monitoring and reviewing restrictive interventions and compulsory treatment to ensure that the rights of people with a disability are protected.
Jeffrey Chan
Senior Practitioner
Telephone: (03) 9096 8427
Fax: (03) 9096 8017
Email: Jeffrey.Chan@dhs.vic.gov.au
Address Level 7, 50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia